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5 Amazing Things to Do in Hollywood

From the Walk of Fame to that very famous sign, Hollywood is a true bucket-list destination

As the capital of the global entertainment industry, Hollywood is both a state of mind and a very real place. Spend some time here to see reminders of movie legends both past and present, while also discovering a vibrant, contemporary urban district that has undergone a dramatic revival in recent years.

Stay at the hotel that hosted the first Academy Awards ceremony

Back in 1929 at the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel, the silent film epic Wings was named Best Picture during the inaugural Academy Awards ceremonies. Stay the night at this beautifully restored boutique hotel, where such icons as Marilyn Monroe once slept. Let the masterful mixologists at The Spare Room (where you can channel your inner Lebowski on two bowling lanes) prepare the perfect craft cocktail.

Find your favourites on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

As you walk through Hollywood, you might just find yourself spending a surprising amount of time looking down. That’s because the Hollywood Walk of Fame immortalizes the entertainment industry’s biggest celebs with distinctive five-pointed terrazzo-and-brass stars embedded in the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street. Recent honourees include Jennifer Lawrence and Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Go behind the scenes at Universal Studios Hollywood

Learn the secrets of moviemaking magic and look King Kong straight in the eye as you visit a working back lot during the world-famous studio tour at Universal Studios Hollywood. For an even closer look, the VIP Experience will take you inside soundstages and the prop room. Then grab your broom and take to the skies over Hogwarts on the thrilling Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride.

See amazing views of the Hollywood Sign

Although the Hollywood Sign is visible from locations throughout the city, trails in Griffith Park lead to unique perspectives of this famous landmark. Many routes begin right beside the landmark Griffith Observatory, which has its own great view of the sign. Or for an unforgettable vantage point, the Hollywood Sign is the star attraction when you take to the skies on a flying sightseeing tour.

Also, don’t miss…

Whether you’re into classical or rock or something in between, nothing beats a concert beneath the stars at the Hollywood Bowl. Everyone from the Beatles to Lady Gaga have performed here, and you can feel the history all around. Get out early for a picnic dinner, and look into the free museum, which celebrates the Hollywood Bowl’s unique place in musical history. And for another only-in-Hollywood experience, head to Hollywood & Highland to see the Dolby Theatre (where the Academy Awards ceremony is held), the nearby TCL Chinese Theatres, super-premium shopping at retailers like Louis Vuitton, and the trendy OHM Nightclub.

Tinseltown, where starlets are discovered on every street corner (or at least we like to think they are), and the tinted windows of that stretch limo might be hiding a Cruise, Hanks or Anniston. And in the hills, a big sign stretches across with letters as big as your dreams—Hollywood. Visit iconic sites filled with celebrity footprints or wax likenesses—maybe even catch a real one in the flesh at a film premiere or awards show. Anything is possible in Hollywood.

The Hollywood Sign

The bright white aura of this iconic sign beams down onto the city from high in the Hollywood Hills

When it comes to icons, this towering sign stands tall—literally. Originally erected in 1923 to promote a housing development called Hollywoodland, the enormous sign—which lost its last four letters in 1949 and got a massive makeover in 1978 (spearheaded by Hugh Hefner of Playboy fame)—now acts like a towering beacon for anyone who dreams of being in the movies.

Get good views of the sign along Mulholland Highway as it snakes through the Hollywood Hills, as well as from the Griffith Observatory and Lake Hollywood Park. From town, look up at the sign from the Hollywood and Highland Center. Or, for a more novel way to see the sign, hike the West Trail in Griffith Park or join a guided trail ride from Sunset Ranch, at the end of Beachwood Drive.

Sunset Boulevard

Stretching from the bustle of Downtown to glamorous Malibu, Sunset Boulevard stands out as the ultimate road to fame or fortune. Or at least that’s the dream. From scruffy clubs and neon to historic film studios and beaches, this iconic street captures the very essence of L.A.—a clash of extremes all spread out beneath the California sun.

From the oldest part of Los Angeles near Olvera Street, the broad boulevard starts its path to the sea. Sunset Strip, the section between Havenhurst Drive and Doheny Drive, has a chequered history—it was the setting for counterculture protests in the 1960s, rock and roll decadence in the ‘70s and ‘80s, and has more recently undergone a chic renaissance, with luxury hotel towers and fine restaurants hidden behind ivy-covered walls. The boulevard then winds past the mansions of Beverly Hills and Bel Air, then heads west toward some of SoCal’s most famous beaches. Must-see stops along the way include the Guitar Center’s Hollywood RockWalk (a rock-star twist on the better-known Hollywood Walk of Fame) and the legendary Chateau Marmont, a castle-like luxury hotel that has housed its share of Hollywood indiscretions. Slip into the bar to have a drink, and see which celebrities might be hiding in dark corners.

TCL Chinese Theatre

Since 1927, this ornate Asian-themed cinema has been hosting films, and it’s still a top place for premières in Hollywood, with arc lights, paparazzi and the hubbub that goes with the film business. But it’s the courtyard out front that gets even more attention: it’s where more than 200 famous celebrities have left their hand- and footprints in cement, then signed them personally—sometimes with a flourish. Marilyn made prints with her signature high-heels; John Wayne stepped into wet cement with his cowboy boots on; Star Wars’ R2D2 left wheel prints.

Take a 20-minute guided walking tour to peek behind the theatre’s impressive golden doors and learn more about master showman Sid Grauman, the theatre’s original owner. Or, catch a film—the Chinese Theatre still functions as a regular cinema for first-run films.

Hollywood Walk of Fame

When you’re in Tinseltown, posing with a sidewalk star along theHollywood Walk of Fame is practically a rite of passage—and it’s also oneof the city’s most beloved free attractions.

Honouring luminaries in motion pictures, television, radio, live theatre and recording since 1960, the famous sidewalk includes both sides of Hollywood Boulevard from Gower to La Brea, plus both sides of Vine Street from Yucca to Sunset. The handsome terrazzo-and-brass stars (each costs about $30,000 to install and maintain) are unveiled at free public ceremonies, which are often attended by honourees and their celebrity entourages—a great way to see stars if that’s one of your Hollywood goals (and isn’t it everyone’s?).

And don’t think this is about honouring has-beens or where-are-they-nows: getting a star is still considered an honour, with an impressive roster of recent honorees (Javier Bardem, Viola Davis, James Franco, Kevin Spacey, to name a few). Want to find a particular star? Use the Walk of Fame’s online Star Search tool to send you to the location for your dream photo opp. While you’re there, you’re a short walk from such big HollywoodBoulevard attractions as TCL Chinese Theatre, El Capitan Theatre, and MadameTussauds Hollywood

Madame Tussauds Hollywood

No velvet ropes or barriers here—at this interactive wax museum, getting close to some of the most recognisable people in the world is not seen as a violation; in fact it’s encouraged. More than 125 life-like figures from the worlds of film, TV, music, sports, and even super heroes are on display, and the likenesses can be downright eerie. You might have to pinch Anne Hathaway to make sure she’s not real—credit that to the meticulous work of the museum’s highly trained sculptors, who have collectively created wax figures of real people for more than 200 years. Don’t leave until you’ve had the chance to shoot hoops with Kobe Bryant, sidle up to Johnny Depp and perform onstage with Rihanna.

Celebrity Spotting

Stargazing takes on a different meaning in Tinseltown. While there’s no guarantee you’ll spy a familiar face when you’re here, there are some locations where you can up the odds—particularly at hotels. Start at Hollywood’s luxurious, castle-like Chateau Marmont. Always a celebrity magnet, this elegant hotel is a revolving door for the hippest celebs. Check the palm-tree ringed patio during lunchtime for A-listers like Scarlett Johansson and Robert Pattinson. Teddy’s, the unmarked celebrity haunt at the Hollywood Roosevelt on Hollywood Boulevard, is a favourite for the VIP set, and while you probably can’t get through the door, you can hang out in the lavish lobby to see who comes and goes. The basement-level recording studio at the Sunset Marquis draws mega-watt musicians including Madonna and Elton John.

Local sightseeing companies like Starline Tours also tempt visitors with tales of major star-sightings. Your trip may yield nothing more than Sandra Bullock’s gated driveway, but, well, it’s a very nice driveway.

The California Questionnaire: Margaret Cho

The Emmy- and Grammy-nominated stand-up comic, actress and singer clues us into her love of Los Angeles and California culture

Margaret Cho has been doing stand-up since high school, and her ability to make audiences LOL has afforded her opportunities in all genres—from her own sitcom on ABC, to roles in blockbuster films like Face/Off, to her Emmy-winning turn as Kim Jong-Il on 30 Rock, to musical collaborations on her two Grammy-nominated albums. Cho’s 2017 comedy tour, Fresh Off The Bloat, will bring her back to theatres across America before she returns to work on her new TNT series, Highland. She will also appear alongside Will Smith in Bright, Netflix’s police thriller. Although Cho is at home on the stage, she’s in love with her home in Los Angeles, and the diverse, artistic community she’s built for herself. She shares her favourite parts of California below.

Where do you live? Hollywood

Why there? I have always wanted to live in Hollywood—it's been a dream since I was a kid! I loved the movie Valley Girl. It seemed like the perfect place and it is!

Who or what is your greatest California love? Where I live now, how my life is, my house, my people—it’s the best!

What is the biggest misperception about Californians? I think that people think we are shallow, or that L.A. has no culture. But it's incredibly rich in diversity, art, class, community.

What is the stereotype that most holds true? That we are self-involved. This is incredibly true.

What is your favourite Golden State splurge? I love taking [U.S. Highway] 101 instead of [Interstate] 5. That is the ultimate indulgence—splurging on taking my time. I just love to be spontaneous and take in different places [on] each trip.

Time for a road trip. Where are you going? To San Francisco from Los Angeles. It's my ancestral home; the ultimate journey. I love Haight Street. Just walking down the street is fun for me. Also, I love eating at random places along the streets—I'm very adventurous with my appetite.

If you could decree an official state culinary experience, what would it be? I love a Hollywood classic like Musso & Frank Grill. I used to go in the ’90s with Quentin Tarantino, and it's just as glamorous now as it was in the ’50s!

Best California song? “Shores of California” by The Dresden Dolls.

How would your California dream day unfold? Late-morning wake-up to do yoga or go to the Rose Bowl for a power walk, then eat a leisurely meal in Chinatown, and see a great late night show with Jon Brion at Largo—the perfect day!

How do you define California style?

California style is casual but elegant. It’s all about sunshine, linen, dark denim, and light wood. That Summer of Love vibe.

Courtesy of Stan Lee

California Questionnaire: Curtis Stone

The Australia native has planted his roots in Los Angeles, where he runs two acclaimed restaurants and lives the California dream

Award-winning chef Curtis Stone was born in Melbourne, established his culinary chops in London, and rose to fame on TV, appearing on multiple cooking shows as well as The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and NBC’s Today. He now expresses his lifelong passion for food at two highly regarded Los Angeles County restaurants.

Maude, a tasting menu-driven spot located in Beverly Hills, is named after Curtis’ paternal grandmother and pays homage to his first culinary mentor. Gwen Butcher Shop & Restaurant, in Hollywood, is also a family affair: Curtis opened this meat-centric fine dining establishment with his brother Luke and it is named after their maternal grandmother.

We asked this affable Aussie to take the California Questionnaire and he happily obliged.

Why there? Well, it wasn’t some grand plan, but I fell in love and married Lindsay and this is where we are raising our sons. I just lucked out that L.A. also has a vibrant food scene and it’s finally getting its day in the sun and recognition on a global level.

Who or what is your greatest California love?California’s ingredients. The state has so much to offer agriculturally. For a chef there is no greater reward than the incredible vegetables, fruit, nuts, wine, and livestock that can be found here. Often chefs see ingredients for the first time as they’re delivered at the backdoor of the restaurant, but you truly are able to cook effortlessly in California because there is continually a bounty of the season at the [various] farmers markets each week.

What is the biggest misperception about Californians? Probably that they’re all vapid and don’t take much seriously.

What is the stereotype that most holds true? There is an ease about Californians, everything from a hippie-ness to a surfy vibe, and that confidence and comfort often gets misconstrued.

What is your favourite Golden State splurge? Uni and wine.

Time for a road trip—where are you going? From Los Angeles north to Mammoth, where the family likes to trek during the holidays to get in some skiing; south to Baja where I can surf and crack open a beer; east to Joshua Tree and Palm Springs where the desert reminds me of Central Australia; and west to the Pacific where I can put my feet in the sand and relax. We’ve got it all.

If you could decree an official state culinary experience, what would it be? Can I say “tacos”? They are my guiltiest of pleasures. I didn’t have solid Mexican food until I was well into my twenties, and up and down the state, a good taco can always be found—even breakfast tacos.

How do you define California style? Sophisticated comfort.

Best California song? Man, there are so many, but I’ll go with “California Dreamin’” by The Mamas & The Papas. It’s an oldie but a goodie. As a boy growing up in Melbourne I had big dreams, which took me to Europe and eventually London, a city I adore but which can be quite dreary at times. So much of that song embodies the aspirations people carry with them in their lives. And the line, “I’d be safe and warm, if I was in LA” rings truer for me than it ever has, on multiple levels.

How would your California dream day unfold? Let’s assume I get time away from the restaurants where I feel so at home. I would keep it really simple: Coffee and brekkie with Linds and the boys, perhaps a dip in the pool or a swim in the ocean, bike rides, an easy hike, time in the vegetable garden to prepare dinner, and having the rest of the family over for a feast. That would be my perfect day.

Gwen Butcher Shop & Restaurant

Curtis Stone and his brother Luke both began their culinary careers in an Australian butcher shop, so it makes sense that their joint venture, Gwen, is a meat-focused entity. Named after their maternal grandmother who lived on a farm near Melbourne, Gwen features a full-service butcher shop alongside a fine-dining restaurant that offers Wagyu beef, Kurobuta pork, and other carnivores’ delights.

“The glassed-in counter could double as a museum of steaks,” wrote Jonathan Gold, the late, lamented Los Angeles Times food critic who gave Gwen a rave review. “Well-marbled tomahawks from Creekstone Farms in Kansas, pastured slabs of impossible-to-find rib-eye cap from Napa's renowned Five Dot Ranch and, most significantly, the spectacular, breathtakingly expensive Wagyu from Australia's Blackmore Farms, which the Stone brothers like so much that they set up an import company just so they could get the steaks in Los Angeles.”

A massive, magnificent fire pit is the focal point of the room and serves as the undeniable hub of culinary activity. But Curtis, a veteran of Top Chef Masters, Take Home Chef, and many other cooking shows, is hardly a one-trick pony. He trained in London with Michelin-star chef Marco Pierre White and knows his way around every corner of the kitchen.

His team dishes out seasonal sides that range from creamed leeks to roasted carrots to inventive plates inspired by the nearby Hollywood Farmers’ Market. Reservations are strongly encouraged but walk-ins are welcome too—you may even land a coveted spot at the chef’s counter where you can watch the culinary crew cook for you all night.

Regions

Pick a region form the map or the list below to explore.

Regions

Scroll down to explore the twelve regions of California.

1. Shasta Cascade

This region, in California’s north-east corner, is known for mountains, forests, waterfalls, and amazing, safe to visit volcanoes. The region, a 3 hour drive north of Sacramento, takes its name from the rugged Cascade Mountains and their signature peak in state, 14,180 foot/4,322 metre Mount Shasta, a volcano.

Highlights

2. North Coast

With crashing waves along the coast and soaring redwood trees blanketing miles of uncrowded parkland, this is one of California’s most spectacular regions. The largest city, Eureka, is roughly a 5 hour drive north of San Francisco. But what a drive: lush wine country, charming hamlets, spouting whales, and breathtaking sunsets.

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3. Gold Country

The western foothills of the Sierra Nevada Range, defining California’s eastern border, are known as the Gold Country, named after the rich Mother Lode discovered here in the mid 1850s. While gold is still found in the region, new riches include white water rafting, tucked away towns, farm fresh dining, and award winning wines.

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4. San Francisco Bay Area

On the western oceanfront of Northern California, at the state’s distinctive bend along the coast, lies this breathtaking region. It is framed by an unforgettable gateway, the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, spanning the mouth of San Francisco Bay. Explore diverse cities, picturesque hamlets, family friendly beaches, coastal parklands, and wine country, including Napa and Sonoma wine country, 1½ hours north of San Francisco.

5. High Sierra

Nicknamed 'California’s backbone,' this region of towering granite peaks defines much of the state’s eastern boundary. Visit Yosemite Valley, Lake Tahoe, Mammoth Lakes and the giant trees of Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks. All within a day’s drive of either San Francisco or L.A. In winter, enjoy snow sports. In summer, go hiking, mountain biking, fishing, or boating.

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6. Central Valley

Running right down the middle of California, this broad region contains some of most productive farmland in the world. Wine country around Lodi features big, bold reds. Further south, Fresno has a lively arts scene.

8. Deserts

This dramatic region takes up the south-eastern half of the state. Remarkable desert parklands, including Death Valley, Joshua Tree, and Anza Borrego, provide an extraordinary chance to explore, while the oasis like allure of Palm Springs, 3 hours north-east of San Diego, offers sunny resort style getaways, with golf, tennis, spas, and high end shopping.

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9. Inland Empire

This densely populated Southern California region has surprising alpine getaways, like Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead, in the impressive San Bernardino Range. On the region’s sunny east side, explore the inviting Temecula Valley wine region. The university town of Riverside is the region’s largest city. San Bernardino, the second largest city, has museums and impressive shopping, while Fontana has NASCAR racing.

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10. Los Angeles County

This sunny region along the state’s southern coast is California’s most populated region, best known as the capital of the entertainment industry. Here, film stars really do work in Hollywood, play in the surf at Malibu, and shop in Beverly Hills. Looping motorways make the car king, but the region also has a surprisingly good network of buses and light rail, a hassle-free way to explore.

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11. Orange County

Tucked between San Diego and Los Angeles Counties, this region is known for flawless beaches and 'the happiest place on earth,' Disneyland Resort. Anaheim, the theme park’s home, offers a surprisingly hip vibe in a refurbished downtown. Newport Beach has dazzling yachts, Huntington Beach has iconic surfing, and Costa Mesa beckons with top shopping.

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12. San Diego County

This sun and surf region is known for some of the best weather and warmest water in the state. San Diego, the state’s second largest city, is home to the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, one of the world’s great urban parks. For family fun, play at SeaWorld San Diego and LEGOLAND California Resort. Inland, discover surprising mountain towns like Julian, known for orchards and apple pie.